Review: Snotgirl #4

By Dustin Cabeal

I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. It still hasn’t and with this issue I feel like I did after the first issue. Excited, confused, and anxious for more. In this issue, so many minor things happen it’s hard to talk about it without spoilers, but even with spoilers, I don’t know if it would make sense without reading it.

Who ever thought a story about fashion blogging would be so complicated?

Caroline aka Cool Girl has found Lottie. Which is confusing because we totally saw Cool Girl die in the first issue right? RIGHT? From what we’re shown, no. I won’t tell you exactly what we’re shown, but it adds another layer of “what the fuck” to this story. Again, I got a Perfect Blue vibe from Cool Girl and Lottie’s interaction, but this comic continues to twist and turn me to the point that I just don’t know what to expect anymore.

The cop finally comes and visits Lottie, and the story gets stranger from there. It felt like the ending to the first issue all over again. Not in what happens, but that emotion of “holy fuck… what’s going to happen?!” Damn you Bryan Lee O’Malley… damn you. I only tolerate this type of anxiety when I’m watching anime because I know I’ll see another episode in a week, but I must wait a month for the next issue, and that stresses me out. Thankfully I almost always forget about this series just in time for it to release again, but it comes back like a switch.

I have no fucking clue where this story is going, but O’Malley is showing that he’s to be trusted. He’s not David Lynching us and making it up as he goes. There’s something he is working towards, and I’ll be there to see what it is. In the meantime, though, he’s masterfully leading us on. It has made this one of the best series of the year. Who knew he could pull off such great monthly work.

Let’s not give him all the credit now because Leslie Hung is fucking amazing. Her work continues to improve with each issue. Aside from loving her overall style, I love the way she colors the book. From Lottie's gradient hair to the way she handled a flashback making it look entirely different from the rest of the series. The art adds to the mystery of what the fuck is going on because it’s so light, smooth and vibrant that it makes you question if it’s misleading you. I think it is but in a very intentional and fantastic way. As much as I’m looking forward to the story, I’m also looking forward to seeing what Hung will do with the art and layouts because this stands out from everything else on the market in the best possible way.

That’s another one in the bag people. If you’re not reading Snotgirl, then you’re probably not reading this review. Which is a shame because it is seriously the best title that Image is publishing. You can throw anything else they’re printing at me, and I will still take Snotgirl over it. Fashion blogging… who knew that it would be my favorite comic subject in 2016. It’s so fucking good.

Score: 5/5

Snotgirl #4
Writer: Bryan Lee O’Malley
Artist: Leslie Hung
Publisher: Image Comic